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THE MEDLEY OF TEMPLES AT KHAJURAHO
Location of Khajuraho: Madhya Pradesh.
Main Groups: Western, Eastern, Southern.
Main Temples: Lakshmana Temple, Kandariya Mahadev Temple.
Other Temples: Chausath Yogini Temple, Varaha Temple.
LALGUAN MAHADEVA TEMPLE
(Built in circa AD 900). This temple situated half a mile west of the
Chausath Yogini Temple was constructed on the eastern bank of the Lalguan
Sagar, which formed the western limit of the old town. Built on an outcrop
of granite, the temple faces west and stands on an eight feet high
platform made of granite courses.
This shrine shows a simple plan and design with a few ornaments and
belongs to the transitional phase when structures were made partly of
granite and partly of sandstone. The body of this shrine is made largely
of granite and sandstone is introduced for the veneer of the pyramidal
roof and for those architectural members like pilasters and ceiling, which
were required to be either carved or finely finished.
The sanctum rests on six pilasters, of which the two outer ones are plain
and square, while the four inner ones are similar in design to the
pilasters of the porch. The surmounting ceiling consists of two plain
intersecting squares capped by a course, which is decorated with a lotus
flower in relief. The interior of the sanctum is quite plain and shows no
image whatsoever, though the presence of Nandi figure facing the shrine
indicates that the deity enshrined in the sanctum was probably a
Shiva-linga.
GHANTAI TEMPLE AT KHAJURAHO
(Built in late 10th century). To the south east of the Khajuraho village
is situated the fragmentary shell of a Jain temple known as the Ghantai
and a little farther away is a group of Jain temples enclosed with in a
modern compound-wall. The group comprises the Parsvanath, Adinatha and
Santinatha temples, besides numerous modern shrines. Some of the latter
stand on the ruins of older ones, while most of them are lately built of
old material and display old images.
The Ghantai temple is locally so called on account of the chain-and-bell
(ghanta) motifs, prominently carved on its tall conspicuous pillars, which
are among the finest ones of medieval India, remarkable for their stately
form, bold ornamentation and classical dignity. Facing east, the extant
shell shows that the temple was essentially of the same design as the
Parsvanath temple, but grander in conception and nearly twice as large in
dimensions.
MATANGESVARA TEMPLE AT KHAJURAHO
The Temple Still In Worship
(Built
in circa AD 900-925, during the reign of Harshadeva). This ancient Shiva
Temple, now known as temple of Matangesvara, enshrines one of the largest
Shiva-lingas of North India. It is situated on the north bank of the
Shivasagar Tank immediately to the south of the Lakshmana Temple. The
temple has prominent cardinal projections on the three sides. It is square
internally and cruciform externally and has a grand stepped pyramidal roof
of receding tiers.
Legend: An offering To King Dhanga
The grand dimensions of the structure together with its close proximity
to the royally founded Lakshmana and Visvanatha temples may show that the
funerary monument was erected in honour of one of the Chandela kings. It
is believed that the monument may have been built to commemorate King
Dhanga who after having lived for more than a hundred years is recorded to
have cast off his mortal coil at the sacred confluence of the Ganga and
Yamuna in Prayag, while meditating on Lord Shiva.
The temple is in worship and since it suffered much damage in the past,
it is encumbered with modern additions and accretions in the interior as
well as on the exterior for lending support and stability.
Prominent Features
The pillars of this temple are stumpy and austere. They carry plain
capitals and brackets. Neither brackets nor any sculptures or carvings
adorn these pillars. The ceiling also shows elementary ornaments of cusps
and floral cusps without any attempt at elegance or elaboration.
Standing on a lofty platform terrace and a tall basement approached by an
imposing flight of steps, the temple is notably distinguished by the
balconied windows in the cardinal projections on the three sides, while
the frontal projection consists of an entrance porch.
The lack of ornament and carving on this temple together with the
stupendous size of the Shiva-linga, which, with its enormous pedestal
occupies nearly the entire span of the interior, combined with its
pyramidal roof indicates that the structure probably was a funerary
monument.
